#005749

This interesting box was painted by talented Mstera Artist Alexander Gaun.
The work is called "Trojan horse", and shows a scene from Greek mythology connected with the historical event of the Trojan War. In the center of the composition we can see the Trojan Horse that helped the Greeks to capture the town of Troy.
The Greeks could not enter the city or win the war. Because of this, Odysseus, one of the Greeks, thought of a way to trick them. The Greeks built a large wooden horse and left it outside the gates of the city as a present for the Trojans. The Trojans took the horse and put it inside their city, thinking it was a victory gift from the Greeks. After the Trojan victory parties ended, the Greeks, who were hiding inside the horse, came out of it. They opened the city gates to let the other Greeks enter Troy. The Greeks easily overpowered the Trojans and took control of the city. Because of the Trojan Horse, the Greeks won the Trojan War.
Brown, yellow and green tones of tempera paints predominate here. Gold paint is used to fill the composition with lustrous details. Gold is also used to decorate the box's sides with beautiful floral and foliage patterns. On the box's front side the artist has painted his name, Mstera and the title of the work.
The box is constructed from paper-mache. Black lacquer is used to paint the exterior of the box while red lacquer completes the interior of the work. The lid is hinged from the top of the composition, and the box rests on "wavy" legs.